Device for sealing leaks in fluid containers



NOV. 11, 1958 WARREN 2,859,473

DEVICE FOR SEALING LEAKS IN FLUID CONTAINERS Filed March 5, 1956 rdl. 1 1. MERE/V,

I N V EN TOR.

United States Patent DEVICE FOR SEALING LEAKS IN FLUID CONTAINERS Paul M. Warren, Montebello, Calif. Application March 5, 1956, Serial No. 569,344

3 Claims. (Cl. 18-1) This invention relates to a new device for sealing leaks in fluid containers such as, e. g. aquariums.

A number of diiferent types of aquariums are presently marketed. The small aquariums generally take the form of small jars or containers of glass. With this type of aquarium there is no problem of leakage since if perchance the jar should be cracked it is necessary to utilize a new container.

Larger aquariums, however, are a diiferent matter. These large aquariums are generally built so as to include a joint between two water impervious members such as, e. g., a sheet of glass and a metal edging strip. Such joints are sealed by means of a mastic or other type of thermoplastic composition. Occasionally, because of handling, age or other factors, a leak will develop in these large aquariums in such joints. It has been found that such leaks can be readily sealed, utilizing the device of the present invention with a minimum of difficulty without, in the usual instance, completely emptying the aquarium.

This is exceedingly important from a commercial standpoint inasmuch as all of the known prior repair procedures for large aquariums have necessitated the .complete emptying of such aquariums. This is obviously :a somewhat laborious process. Further, in the case of the balanced aquariums, such emptying operations tend to destroy the balanced nature, and this necessitates a great deal of work to return the repaired aquarium to its initial balanced state.

The devices of the present invention are not restricted in use to the repair of large aquariums in the category indicated in the preceding discussion. Indeed, they may e used with virtually any sort of a construction which is designed to hold a fluid and which utilizes a joint between two water impervious members, the joint being sealed by means of a thermoplastic composition disposed between such two water impervious members. Because of the nature of the invention it is not believed that it is necessary to set forth in detail any large number of specific objects serving to indicate the utility and function of this invention. Various objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains from the remainder of this specification, including the appended claims and from the accompanying drawing for which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a device of this invention in use;

Fig. 2 is a side view taken in the direction of line 22 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating modified construction of this invention;

Fig. 4 is another perspective view of the construction shown in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a side view similar to Fig. 2 showing the use of a modified device illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.

In all figures of the drawing like numerals are used to designate like parts wherever convenient for purposes 2,859,473 Patented Nov. 11, 1958 of illustration and explanation. It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to constructions having the precise sizes and shapes shown in the drawings inasmuch as it is possible to depart from these sizes and shapes and still retain the essential features herein explained.

In order to understand this invention, it may be stated by way of summary that it concerns devices which are designed to be employed in sealing leaks in constructions designed to hold a fluid having a joint between two water impervious members with a thermoplastic composition positioned within this joint, each of which devices comprises or includes: a heat conducting body including means adapted to be connected to a heat source so as to project therefrom at an acute angle to said given direction in order to fit closely against said joint within said device designed to hold a fluid, said tip including an end adapted to engage said thermoplastic composition within said joint so as to heat said thermoplastic composition in order to cause said thermoplastic composition to flow and seal leaks within said joint. The invention is, of course, more fully defined by the appended claims forming a part of this description.

In Fig. l a device 10 of this invention is shown in use in sealing a leak in an aquarium 12, this leak being located in a joint 14 between a large glass sheet 16 and a metal edge 18 which is attached to the bottom 20 of the aquarium. Between the glass 16, the edge 18 and the bottom 20 there is located a strip 22 of a thermoplastic composition such as, e. g. an asphaltic composition such as may be termed mastic or such as a thermoplastic resin of synthetic origin.

The device 10 includes a central body 24 of generally cylindrical shapewithin one end 26 of which there is located a hole 28 provided with internal threads so that the device 10 may be conveniently attached to a threaded portion 30 located at an end of a conventional soldering iron 32. If desired, this soldering iron 32 may be termed a heat source since in the use of the device 1% it is employed to supply heat to this device.

It is readily seen from a consideration of Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 of the drawings that with the preferred construction of this invention the axis of the body 24 is coincident with the axis of the elongated portion of the soldering iron 32 leading to the threaded portion 30. It is not possible to place the soldering iron 32 directly against or flush with the glass 16 in utilizing the device 10 because of the danger of transmitting heat directly to this glass. This, as will be realized, would tend to cause the glass 16 to crack. For this reason, there is provided on the body 24 so as to extend therefrom at an acute angle to the axis of the body 24 a tip 34. This tip is the general shape of a bar and has an end 36 which is provided with an elongated concave cavity 38. As shown in Fig. 2, when the device 10 is employed, this end 36 fits against an edge 40 of the strip 22. A moderate amount of pressure is exerted so as to move the end 36 towards the strip 22. Heat is transmitted from the soldering iron 32 to the edge 40 of the strip 22 causing a portion of this strip 22 to become soft and to a limited extent to flow into the joint 14 so as to seal up or fill in voids or leaks within the joint 14. The concave cavity 38 during this operation serves to retain portions of the strip 22 and to guide the portions of the strip which are in a fluid or semifluid condition to a desired location.

In Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings a modified device 42 of the invention shown which is identical with the device 10 except the fact that the tip 34 is replaced by another tip 44 having side walls 46 located at a angle to one another so as to meet in an edge 48. This edge and the tip 44 both extend at an acute angle to the axis of the body 24. In order to prevent the body 24 from interfering with the operation of this modified device 42 portions 50 of this body 24 are formed so as to amount to an extenuation of the 'side walls 46.

The use of the modified-device 42 is relatively simple, and is essentially the same as theuse of the device 10. The use is illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings where the modified device 42 is shown in use on the inside of the aquarium 12. During such use, the soldering iron 32 is held on the inside of the aquarium so that the edge 48 fits against an edge 52 of the strip 22 between the glass 16 and thebottom 20. The device 42 is then held in this position and moved as necessary, so as to cause a portion of the strip 22 to be softened and to flow into a desired positionin which leaks are prevented.

The modified device 42 can be readily employed at any corner desired. Further, for some applications such as where the walls of an aquarium-are not at right angles to one another, the side walls '46 can be located with respect to one another at other than a right angle. When the modified device 42 is employed, it is frequently convenient to remove the contents from the aquarium 12, although this is not necessary if the soldering iron 32 is of a category which is essentially waterproof in nature.

Those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains will realize what a large number of modifications may be made in the precise structures illustrated and described in this specification without departing from the essential nature of the inventive concept present in this application. .All such modifications or alterations are to be considered as part of the present invention insofar as they are within the-skill of the art, and are defined by the appended claims forming a part of this description.

I claim:

1. A device which is adapted to be employed in sealing leaks in constructions which are adapted to hold a liquid, which constructions have a joint between two water impervious members filled with a thermoplastic compositions forming a seal between said members, said device being adapted to be used in manipulating said thermoplastic composition in said joint, said device comprising: a heat conductive body formed so as to include means adapted to be connected to a heat source so that said body projects from said heat source in a given direction, a tip formed integrally with said body so as to project therefrom'at'an acute angle to said given direction so that said tip may be manipulated in order to fit closely against a joint between two water impervious members within a construction adapted to hold a fluid, said tip including'abar shaped end provided with a concave cavity facing generally away from said body, said end being adapted to engage a thermoplastic composition and to be used in heating and manipulating said thermoplastic composition.

2. A device as defined' in claim'l wherein said end is concave soas to hold said thermoplastic composition in a given area.

3. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said end is provided with an elongated concave cavity facing 7 generally away from said body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

